verb

overcome

/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/ · say it: OH·vur·KUM

to succeed in dealing with a problem

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (verb) to successfully deal with or get past a problem or difficulty

2. (verb) to defeat an enemy or opponent

3. (verb) to be overpowered by a strong emotion or effect

Examples

1. She worked hard to overcome her fear of public speaking.
2. The army overcame the rebels after a long battle.
3. He was overcome with grief when he heard the sad news.

How to use overcome

Overcome is a versatile verb used when someone successfully deals with a problem, defeats an adversary, or is temporarily overwhelmed by emotion. It suggests both effort and eventual success in the first sense, direct conquest in the second, and momentary loss of composure in the third. The third sense often appears in passive constructions (overcome by grief, overcome by emotion).

Common phrases

overcome a challenge
overcome difficulties
overcome an opponent
overcome your fears
overcome obstacles

Synonyms

conquer · surmount · triumph over · vanquish · defeat

Opposites

surrender to · succumb to · yield to

Word family

overcome (verb) · overcoming (gerund) · overcame (past) · overcome (past participle) · overcomable (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse overcome (successfully deal with a problem) with overlook (fail to notice); these are entirely different meanings.

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